Data connection with external access path

Abstract

OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for establishing a multi-access data connection with an external access path. One apparatus ( 500 ) includes a transceiver ( 525 ) that communicates ( 705 ) with first and second mobile networks and a processor ( 505 ) that sends ( 710 ) a request message to the first mobile network to establish a multi-access data connection, the request message containing an external access path request. The processor ( 505 ) receives ( 715 ) a response message that accepts the request to establish a multi-access data connection and that contains a set of rules indicating how the apparatus ( 500 ) is to route data traffic across a set of access networks in the first mobile network and across an external access path over the second mobile network. The processor ( 505 ) communicates ( 720 ) with a UPF in the first network over the set of access networks and the external access path.

1 . A User Equipment (“UE”) apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver that communicates with a first mobile communication network and a second mobile communication network via a plurality of access networks; and 
 a processor that: 
 sends a request message to the first mobile communication network to establish a multi-access data connection, wherein the request message comprises an external access path request that indicates that the multi-access data connection is to support communication via the second mobile communication network; 
 receives a response message from the first mobile communication network that accepts the request to establish a multi-access data connection, wherein the response message comprises a set of rules indicating how the apparatus is to route data traffic across a set of access networks in the first mobile communication network and across an external access path over the second mobile communication network; and 
 communicates with a user plane function (“UPF”) in the first mobile communication network via the set of access networks and the external access path. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein communicating with the UPF in the first mobile communication network via the set of access networks and the external access path comprises:
 establishing a multi-path transmission control protocol (“MPTCP”) connection with the UPF, wherein the MPTCP connection supports a set of transmission control protocol (“TCP”) sub-flows, each TCP sub-flow carrying TCP traffic over a different access network in the first mobile communication network;   receiving a first address advertised by the UPF, wherein the first address is advertised in response to the multi-access data connection supporting communication via the second mobile communication network; and   sending a request to add a new TCP sub-flow to the MPTCP connection, wherein the request is sent to the first address via an access network in the second mobile communication network, wherein the new TCP sub-flow is to carry TCP traffic over the access network in the second mobile communication network.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 or 2 , wherein the processor registers with the first mobile communication network using a set of credentials and registers with the second mobile communication network using a second set of credentials. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processor establishes a single-access data connection with the second mobile communication network prior to establishing the multi-access data connection with the first mobile communication network, wherein the request message is to establish a multi-access Protocol Data Unit (“PDU”) session. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processor establishes a single-access data connection with the second mobile communication network after establishing the multi-access data connection with the second mobile communication network, wherein the request message is to modify the multi-access PDU session. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  any preceding claim , wherein the request comprises an identity of the second mobile communication network and an IP address assigned by the second mobile communication network. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in a first mobile communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver that receives a policy request for a multi-access data connection of a user equipment (“UE”), the policy request containing an external access path request that indicates that the multi-access data connection is to support communication via a second mobile communication network; and   a processor that:   generates a set of rules indicating how the data traffic of the multi-access data connection is to be routed across a set of access networks in the first mobile communication network and across an external access path over the second mobile communication network; and   sends a response message to a session management function, the response message comprising the set of rules.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the external access path request comprises an identity of the second mobile communication network, wherein the processor authorizes the external access path request for the multi-access data connection. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein authorizing the external access path request comprises determining that external access paths over the second mobile communication network are allowed by an operator of the first mobile communication network. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7, 8 or 9 , wherein the policy request comprises an indication of whether the UE supports simultaneous transmission via the first and second mobile communication networks, wherein the set of rules is generated based on the indication. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of any of  claims 7 to 10 , wherein the processor further creates an external access path information (“EAPI”) element for validating an external access path over the second mobile communication network, wherein the response message further comprises the EAPI element. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in a first mobile communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver that receives a session establishment request for a multi-access data connection of a user equipment (“UE”), the session establishment request containing a set of rules for routing downlink traffic of the multi-access data connection across a set of access networks in the first mobile communication network and across an external access path over a second mobile communication network; and   a processor that:   assigns a first network address to the multi-access data connection for enabling UE communication via the set of access networks in the first mobile communication network;   assigns a second network address to the multi-access data connection for communicating with the UE via the external access path over the second mobile communication network; and   communicates with the UE via the set of access networks and the external access path.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein communicating with the UPF in the first mobile communication network via the set of access networks and the external access path comprises:
 establishing a multipath transmission control protocol (“MPTCP”) connection with the UE, wherein the MPTCP connection supports a first set of transmission control protocol (“TCP”) sub-flows, each TCP sub-flow carrying TCP traffic over a different access network in the first mobile communication network; and   advertising availability of the second address to the UE, wherein the second address is advertised in response to the multi-access data connection supporting communication via the second mobile communication network.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the session establishment request further contains an external access path information (“EAPI”) element for validating the external access path over the second mobile communication network, wherein the processor uses the EAPI element to validate that a request to add a new TCP sub-flow to the MPTCP is sent via the second mobile communication network, wherein the processor accepts the new TCP sub-flow in response to validating the request, wherein the new TCP sub-flow is to carry TCP traffic over an access network in the second mobile communication network. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of any of  claims 12 to 14 , wherein the second address is the same as the first address.